New_Backup Selection...for Windows Server 2012 R2

[trojan929]

Good day folks,

I am running NetBackup 7.5.0.4 on Windows 2008 Enterprise. I just built a new archive server on Windows 2012 R2, and when I try to create a "New Backup Selection" on my "Daily-Data" backup policy, the directive set only shows 2003 and 2008 - I am thinking this can only be done for 2003 and 2008 servers. What I would like to know is how can I get to backup my archive server which is running Windows 2012 R2 on NetBackup?

Many thanks in advance for your responses. 

Onesimus

[sdo]

A directive is a directive, there are actually no distinctions for directives between Windows versions - it's a shame that this hasn't been addressed in the product - but then it's a low priority cosmetic issue...

...so, just use the directives that you are used to using.

[trojan929]

So how can I direct a Windows 2012 client for backup on directive set 2003/2008? It just doesn't accept!

[Nicolai · Accepted solution]

You need to upgrade to NBU 7.5.0.6 for windows 2012R2 support. As I recall Windows 2012R2 has a seperate full installer.

See matrix:

https://symwisedownload.symantec.com/resources/sites/SYMWISE/content/live/SOLUTIONS/76000/TECH76648/en_US/nbu_76_scl.html?__gda__=1433351173_0c4849458a416546052ec223626a9168#operating_systems-microsoft_windows_server_2012

You can see the required file directive in the same document:

https://symwisedownload.symantec.com/resources/sites/SYMWISE/content/live/SOLUTIONS/76000/TECH76648/en_US/nbu_76_scl.html?__gda__=1433351173_0c4849458a416546052ec223626a9168#client_selections_for_backup_policies

NBU 7.5.0.6 download links: 

http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH204644 - see the Optional packages

Pls note: 7.5.0.7 is out now and is the final version on the 7.5 relase branch

[Nicolai]

You need to upgrade first - see my next post

[sdo]

My bad... sorry.

You're on NetBackup v7.5.0.4, but teh client needs to be a minimum of v7.5.0.6 in order to backup a Windows 2012 R2 server, see the SCL here:

https://symwisedownload.symantec.com/resources/sites/SYMWISE/content/live/SOLUTIONS/76000/TECH76648/en_US/nbu_76_scl.html?__gda__=1432833213_eab12ca5fc34229a66efbd49f88c7cc0#operating_systems-microsoft_windows_server_2012

.

You should usually be okay to update the client to v7.5.0.6 whilst the master/media are still at v7.5.0.4 - because it is a triple dot version difference.

...However Windows 2012 (and R2) with NetBackup v7.5.0.6+ is a special case... and you should not install v7.5 and then patch to v7.5.0.6 - what you should do is install the re-isssued base v7.5.0.6 special kit for Windows 2012 - here:

https://support.symantec.com/en_US/article.TECH204644.html

.

So, if you've already installed the v7.5 x64 and a v7.5.0.4 x64 kit on your Windows 2012 client, then you need to uninstall v7.5.0.4, uninstall v7.5 - and probably best to reboot client at this point - and then install the special base v7.5.0.6 kit for Windows 2012 (and/or R2).

[trojan929]

Guys, thanks for your prompt response.

Now, if I carry on an upgrade of the client, how do I retain the current licenses?

[sdo · Accepted solution]

NetBackup licenses are held by NetBackup 'Servers' (i.e. master servers and/or media servers - depending upon the license type).  NetBackup licenses are not installed on plain 'clients'.

.

I'm not sure that upgrading the client to v7.6.0.6 will work - because a special 'base + patch' roll-up combo kit was specifically issued for NetBackup v7.5.0.6 for Windows 2012 (and R2).   The client may work for backups if you upgrade it from v7.5.0.4 to v7.5.0.6, but we can't say for sure - so, for the client, my advice would be to uninstall v7.5.0.4 and then uninstall v7.5, then reboot, then install v7.5.0.6 Client using the special Windows 2012 roll-up combo installation kit.

You should not need to do anything with your master and/or media servers - you should be able to leave these at v7.5.0.4 - if you want to get going quickly - because NetBackup typically tolerates a client being at triple dot higher version - i.e. one can usually (but not always) get away with having clients at v7.5.0.6 in a v7.5.0.4 environment.  However, having said that - it may transpire that there is somethign about a Windows 2012 NetBackup v7.5.0.6 client which also requires NetBackup 'Servers' to be at v7.5.0.6 - but I've not personally heard of such a requirement in this particular combination.

[Nicolai]

What SDO is saying is true (as always)

But 7.5.0.7 contain a lot of bug fixes and other goodies. So why not upgrade. It does not cost you anything that a little planing and upgrade time

From the 7.5.0.7 release notes:

This release incorporates fixes to several known issues that existed with NetBackup. Many of these issues pertain to the customer-specific issues that have been documented in the form of Titan or Salesforce.com (SFDC) cases. Many of the fixes that are incorporated into this release are available as individual engineering binaries and engineering bundles (EEBs). These EEBs were created to address specific customer issues with a previous version of NetBackup. This maintenance release document lists those engineering binaries and bundles. 

[sdo]

(far from always right :p)